Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, better known as the Hillside Stranglers, were a pair of cousins who became one of the most infamous serial killer duos in American history. In this episode, we revisit their reign of terror and the victims they left in their wake. We also explore the critical psychological themes that emerged during the investigation. We'll discuss malingering, as one killer attempted to deceive investigators, and the Barnum effect, a powerful psychological tool used by detectives to break his false narrative. This episode serves as a powerful case study in criminal psychology and the destructive nature of a toxic partnership 

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Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information. Any case information and opinions are based on records in the public domain and are purely speculative in nature. Their comments are not meant to diagnose or treat any condition for listeners, and they are not functioning as licensed therapists providing services on the show. Any information shared based on general client experiences is coincidental and not meant to identify current or past clients. If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, please contact 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

A listener (who we love) submitted a question that we really want to talk all about. What is trauma, and do all traumas require therapy? We talk through some common definitions, talk a little about trauma therapy, and give you some things to look out for if trauma might be sneaking up on you without your knowledge.

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Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information. Any case information and opinions are based on records in the public domain and are purely speculative in nature. Their comments are not meant to diagnose or treat any condition for listeners, and they are not functioning as licensed therapists providing services on the show. Any information shared based on general client experiences is coincidental and not meant to identify current or past clients. If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, please contact 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

 Join us as we recount the baffling case of Amy Bradley, a college student on a family vacation who disappeared from a cruise ship more than 25 years ago. We'll walk through the timeline of the events on the Rhapsody of the Seas, from Amy's last known interactions to the moment her absence was discovered. We’ll also analyze the various leads, from her family's tireless search efforts to the multiple, unconfirmed sightings of a woman believed to be Amy, and how this case has become one of the most prominent mysteries of the sea. We also talk about some common myths and misconceptions around human trafficking and how to protect yourself and actually help in the fight against trafficking.

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Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information. Any case information and opinions are based on records in the public domain and are purely speculative in nature. Their comments are not meant to diagnose or treat any condition for listeners, and they are not functioning as licensed therapists providing services on the show. Any information shared based on general client experiences is coincidental and not meant to identify current or past clients. If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, please contact 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

In this episode, we give our takes on the sentencing of Bryan Kohberger. We read through our favorite portions of the families' victim statements and the harsh words from the judge. We also talk about what we know more about the unsealed evidence, and why we think he took the plea instead of fighting it out in court.

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Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information. Any case information and opinions are based on records in the public domain and are purely speculative in nature. Their comments are not meant to diagnose or treat any condition for listeners, and they are not functioning as licensed therapists providing services on the show. Any information shared based on general client experiences is coincidental and not meant to identify current or past clients. If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, please contact 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Who among us hasn't been caught snuggling an affair partner in the kiss cam at a rock concert and gone mega-viral? Oh...none of us, that's right. 

But why do people cheat? And can a relationship recover? Moving beyond simplistic explanations, we consult Esther Perel's transformative insights into why people cheat, often revealing a longing not just for another person, but for a different self. We'll dissect the interplay of desire, secrets, and the modern romantic ideal. Crucially, we then tackle the question of recovery: what does it truly take to process the pain, grieve the past, and, for couples who commit to the work, navigate the challenging yet potentially regenerative path to redefine intimacy and move forward after an affair? 

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Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information. Any case information and opinions are based on records in the public domain and are purely speculative in nature. Their comments are not meant to diagnose or treat any condition for listeners, and they are not functioning as licensed therapists providing services on the show. Any information shared based on general client experiences is coincidental and not meant to identify current or past clients. If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, please contact 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

In this episode, Nat and Jeannine give a quick look at two developing cases a little too close to home: a man who tried to commit a legit axe murder in a parking lot near the office, and a body that was found on the side of the highway. We talk a little bit about the demographics of DV, prevention and self-preservation, and why you gotta look out for those red flags.

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Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information. Any case information and opinions are based on records in the public domain and are purely speculative in nature. Their comments are not meant to diagnose or treat any condition for listeners, and they are not functioning as licensed therapists providing services on the show. Any information shared based on general client experiences is coincidental and not meant to identify current or past clients. If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, please contact 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Shortly before and less than 5 miles away from the largest annual gathering of domestic violence providers in Colorado, an offender was arrested and charged with multiple violent offenses and then released on bail. Then, while the conference was ramping up, Nat and Jeannine (along with all the other early attendees) got a cell phone alert to lock down due to an active shooter in the nearby Blue River area. Nat gives us the details of what we know on the case of Daniel Devito (no relation) and the shooting of Jordan Labarre that led to this alert. We discuss the importance of applying extreme risk protection orders, keeping people in custody, and the difficulties of treating DV offenders in small rural communities. Our hearts go out to the survivors and victim in this developing case.

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Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information. Any case information and opinions are based on records in the public domain and are purely speculative in nature. Their comments are not meant to diagnose or treat any condition for listeners, and they are not functioning as licensed therapists providing services on the show. Any information shared based on general client experiences is coincidental and not meant to identify current or past clients. If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, please contact 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Y'all...we are so tired! We're back from our annual conference with brains full and voices shot. We just want to shout out some of our wonderful friends and fans we met in the mountains and let you know we appreciate all our listeners. We're keeping it brief this week to let our voices (and out producer) rest, but we love our Forensic Friends!

Support the show

Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information. Any case information and opinions are based on records in the public domain and are purely speculative in nature. Their comments are not meant to diagnose or treat any condition for listeners, and they are not functioning as licensed therapists providing services on the show. Any information shared based on general client experiences is coincidental and not meant to identify current or past clients. If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, please contact 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

In this episode, we discuss the July 20th, 2012 mass shooting at the midnight premier of the Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado. We talk about the events that took place and the heroic actions of law enforcement in the immediate aftermath. We dissect the deep psychological issues that plagued Holmes throughout his life and discuss his mindset in the lead up to the atrocity, including a debate about the balance between mental illness, detachment from reality, and premeditation in criminal act. We also talk about prevention and the heart we have for the victims of this heinous crime.

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Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information. Any case information and opinions are based on records in the public domain and are purely speculative in nature. Their comments are not meant to diagnose or treat any condition for listeners, and they are not functioning as licensed therapists providing services on the show. Any information shared based on general client experiences is coincidental and not meant to identify current or past clients. If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, please contact 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Back by request, we bring you more of our hand-picked, ripest, reddest flags. Who is paying for dates? Who's criticizing whom? And bro, why is your ex calling me rn? Listen in and sound off in the comments and DMs about your own list of dating red flags

Support the show

Disclaimer: Jeannine and Natalie are commentators on publicly sourced information. Any case information and opinions are based on records in the public domain and are purely speculative in nature. Their comments are not meant to diagnose or treat any condition for listeners, and they are not functioning as licensed therapists providing services on the show. Any information shared based on general client experiences is coincidental and not meant to identify current or past clients. If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, please contact 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.